Latest news with #Survekshan
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dehradun civic body to roll out rebate-linked waste policy: Commissioner
Dehradun municipal commissioner Namami Bansal, in an interview with TOI's Tanmayee Tyagi, acknowledged that improvements are needed in the civic body's handling of door-to-door waste collection and source segregation. Once the cleanest city in Uttarakhand, Dehradun's ranking in the recently released Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2024 results slipped to 13th position statewide. It improved slightly in national rankings, from 68th to 62nd in the big city category, but its door-to-door waste collection dropped drastically from 96.5% to 48%, and waste processing fell from 78.5% to 27%. In order to combat this issue, Bansal on Saturday said a source segregation policy will be introduced soon, which will offer rebates in user charges so that the more a resident segregates their waste, the more rebate they will receive. Q: Even though there was a slight improvement in Doon's national ranking, the parameters are not very encouraging. What are the key takeaways from the current scores? The numbers are very clear. We need to make significant improvements in our door-to-door waste collection and source segregation. This time, we lost out on the garbage-free city and legacy waste criteria, but since the inspections for SS 2024, regular processing has been carried out at both our legacy waste sites. We've already made significant progress on that front. Since the corporation's takeover of door-to-door waste management, we've increased garbage collection to over 80%. We have our work cut out for us, and we're steadily taking steps to fix the situation. Q: What does Dehradun's fall in ranking within the state signify? It's important to understand that this comparison is not absolute. Changes in markings and indicative parameters mean that a comparison with previous years doesn't tell the whole story. Similarly, an absolute city-wise ranking is also not a fair comparison. A cantonment board or a municipality doesn't have the same indicators as a municipal corporation. A smaller city with less population has different challenges compared to a larger one, especially the state capital. Even the marking parameters are different. Also, unfortunately, when the inspections were happening in Dehradun, sanitation workers were on strike due to non-payment of wages. This irregularity was the primary reason why the corporation stepped in. Since we took over, we've managed to avoid such scenarios, and door-to-door collection has actually improved. If we're able to implement our plans, next year's Survekshan scores will reflect our efforts. Q: The need for source segregation has been an old one. Even the corporation has been saying so. How is DMC planning to achieve this? We are bringing in a specific source segregation policy and will introduce it soon. To encourage more people to carry out segregation, we'll offer rebates in user charges. The more you segregate your waste at the doorstep, the more rebate you'll receive. There's a need for massive public sensitisation on this front. If only 10% of people segregate their waste, it doesn't help the system, it all ends up mixed. But if everyone does it, we can actually build an effective waste management system with better processing at our collection centres. We'll also strengthen our challaning and enforcement to ensure compliance. Q: What else can be done to strengthen Doon's overall waste management? We're planning a decentralised approach to waste management. The compactors at Kargi were installed with this in mind. We're also working to enhance capacity so that the Harrawala model can be replicated in other wards. We already have some solutions, we just need to implement them. The idea of licensing commercial establishments is also part of this. Once we have a count of licensed bulk waste generators, we can track the waste they generate, how it's being disposed of, and take action on any non-compliance. For transparency, we're involving self-help groups in collecting user charges. We're on the right track, and stabilising Doon's waste management is a top priority for the corporation. Dehradun municipal commissioner Namami Bansal, in an interview with TOI's Tanmayee Tyagi, acknowledged that improvements are needed in the civic body's handling of door-to-door waste collection and source segregation. Once the cleanest city in Uttarakhand, Dehradun's ranking in the recently released Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2024 results slipped to 13th position statewide. It improved slightly in national rankings, from 68th to 62nd in the big city category, but its door-to-door waste collection dropped drastically from 96.5% to 48%, and waste processing fell from 78.5% to 27%. In order to combat this issue, Bansal on Saturday said a source segregation policy will be introduced soon, which will offer rebates in user charges so that the more a resident segregates their waste, the more rebate they will receive. Q: Even though there was a slight improvement in Doon's national ranking, the parameters are not very encouraging. What are the key takeaways from the current scores? The numbers are very clear. We need to make significant improvements in our door-to-door waste collection and source segregation. This time, we lost out on the garbage-free city and legacy waste criteria, but since the inspections for SS 2024, regular processing has been carried out at both our legacy waste sites. We've already made significant progress on that front. Since the corporation's takeover of door-to-door waste management, we've increased garbage collection to over 80%. We have our work cut out for us, and we're steadily taking steps to fix the situation. Q: What does Dehradun's fall in ranking within the state signify? It's important to understand that this comparison is not absolute. Changes in markings and indicative parameters mean that a comparison with previous years doesn't tell the whole story. Similarly, an absolute city-wise ranking is also not a fair comparison. A cantonment board or a municipality doesn't have the same indicators as a municipal corporation. A smaller city with less population has different challenges compared to a larger one, especially the state capital. Even the marking parameters are different. Also, unfortunately, when the inspections were happening in Dehradun, sanitation workers were on strike due to non-payment of wages. This irregularity was the primary reason why the corporation stepped in. Since we took over, we've managed to avoid such scenarios, and door-to-door collection has actually improved. If we're able to implement our plans, next year's Survekshan scores will reflect our efforts. Q: The need for source segregation has been an old one. Even the corporation has been saying so. How is DMC planning to achieve this? We are bringing in a specific source segregation policy and will introduce it soon. To encourage more people to carry out segregation, we'll offer rebates in user charges. The more you segregate your waste at the doorstep, the more rebate you'll receive. There's a need for massive public sensitisation on this front. If only 10% of people segregate their waste, it doesn't help the system, it all ends up mixed. But if everyone does it, we can actually build an effective waste management system with better processing at our collection centres. We'll also strengthen our challaning and enforcement to ensure compliance. Q: What else can be done to strengthen Doon's overall waste management? We're planning a decentralised approach to waste management. The compactors at Kargi were installed with this in mind. We're also working to enhance capacity so that the Harrawala model can be replicated in other wards. We already have some solutions, we just need to implement them. The idea of licensing commercial establishments is also part of this. Once we have a count of licensed bulk waste generators, we can track the waste they generate, how it's being disposed of, and take action on any non-compliance. For transparency, we're involving self-help groups in collecting user charges. We're on the right track, and stabilising Doon's waste management is a top priority for the corporation.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MCD continues to show lacklustre results in Swachhta Survekshan 2024-25
New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi continued to show lacklustre results in the Swachhta Survekshan. In the assessment of cities with populations exceeding 10 lakh (or million-plus cities) for 2024-25, it placed 31st out of 44. This follows the 2023-24 performance in which Delhi ranked 90th among 446 cities in the category of urban areas with populations above one lakh. MCD had aspired to rank in the top 10 in this category in 2024-25, but fell far short. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh argued that until last year, the Aam Aadmi Party was at the helm in MCD and no progress was reported in various sanitation projects pending for two and a half years. "Not just this, due to the non-formation of the standing committee and other statutory panels, important projects related to the clearing of garbage and the establishment of processing facilities couldn't be executed," said Singh. "Now that BJP has assumed power, all these pending projects are seeing progress. So, we expect to be among the top 10 civic bodies in urban areas with population of over one lakh next year." This year's Swachh Survekshan theme was reduce, reuse and recycle. The sanitation indicators emphasised 10 parameters for judging the performance of a city. These were visible cleanliness (1,500 marks or 15%); segregation, collection and transportation of waste (1,000 marks); solid waste management (1,500); access to sanitation (1,000); used water management (1,000); mechanisation of desludging services (500); advocacy for swachhta (1,500); ecosystem strengthening and institutional parameters (1,000); overall welfare of sanitation workers (500); and citizen feedback and grievance redressal (500 marks). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Additionally, a total of 2,500 marks were allocated for being an open defecation-free (1,200 marks) and garbage-free city (1,300 marks). MCD scored 7,920 out of 12,500 points in the assessment. In 2023, it had secured 6,115 points out of 9,500 to be placed at the 90th spot among 446 cities in the category of urban areas with populations above one lakh. While MCD managed to get 100% numbers for door-to-door collection of waste in its areas, it got only 56% for waste segregation, which means the process still hasn't gained traction in the capital. As for waste generation and management, Delhi processes only 51% of the total waste collected, with 56% remediation of waste done at the dumpsites, according to the Survekshan results. Regarding cleanliness and sanitation arrangements, the survey evaluated 93% of MCD areas as dedicatedly cleaned. It noted 100% cleanliness in market areas, 27% cleanliness in waterbodies and found 63% cleanliness maintained at public toilets. BS Vohra, president, East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, alleged that MCD was unable to meet the expectations of residents when it came to public sanitation. "There is literally no progress on cleanliness, landfills, decentralised processing, even door-to-door waste collection," he said. "MCD will be able to perform well only when its basic tasks are performed diligently, such as lifting garbage, keeping public toilets clean, and engaging enough tipper vehicles to keep spaces clean. " Other citizens said the toilets were not maintained properly after they were transferred on a build-operate-transfer basis. "Neighbouring cities such as Meerut (rank 19) and Ghaziabad (11) managed to perform better than the capital," a resident noted. The sanitation survey was initiated in 2016 to evaluate and encourage urban sanitation improvements. After nine years, the Swachh Survekshan evaluated all cities under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban.
India Today
17-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Indore is India's cleanest city for 8th time in row
Indore has once again secured the top spot as India's cleanest city, marking its eighth consecutive win in the central government's annual Swachh Survekshan survey, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Awards during a national ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the event honoured cities and urban bodies for their efforts in maintaining cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).advertisementSwachh Survekshan is the world's largest urban cleanliness survey, assessing cities on parameters such as waste management, sanitation infrastructure, and citizen participation. Indore's feat is attributed to a series of innovative measures and active civic engagement. The city has enforced strict waste segregation, promoted an incremental garbage reduction policy, and fostered a culture of cleanliness among its residents. From vigilant citizens and rickshaw drivers to street hawkers and businesses, Indore's collective commitment to staying litter-free continues to set a benchmark for other announcement came days after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav exuded confidence that Indore will be honoured in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Awards, securing the top spot. "This new category recognises past performance and future potential. Indore deserves this position," Yadav had said.- Ends
